Cone-clutch.



N0. 593,55l. Patented Feb. I3, |902.

A. C. KREBS.

CNE CLUTCH.

(Application med Feb. s, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Tn: Naim: PETERS co., Puma-uma. wnswum'an, n. c.

lhvimnn STATES einem Fries.

ARTHUR CCNSTANTIN KREBS, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO STE. AME. DESANCIENS ETABLISSEMENTS PANHARD ET LEVASSOR, OF PARIS,

FRANCE.

GONE-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ljatent N o. 693,551, datedFebruary 18, 1992.

l Application filed February 8, 1901. Serial No. 46,471. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR CoNsTANTIN KREBs, engineer, a citizen of theRepublic of France, residing in Paris, France, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Cone-Clutches, of which the followingisaspecification.

This invention relates to a system of friction-clutch for motor-cars andotherpurposes, in which the male cone is fitted with a sliding fit onthe shaft which it drives and on which it can therefore slide, so as toengage in the female cone under the pushing action ofaspring. Inthesystemsoffriction-clutches now in use the cone is fixed on theshaft,which must therefore be moved. Consequently when it begins toenter the female cone the shaft is caused to rotate. The resultingrotary force is transmitted from the shaft to the sleeve which carriesthe driving-gear. At this point the friction is considerable by reasonof the fact that the moment-arm of the force applied at thecircumference of the cone is much greater than the moment-arm of theresistance at this point. Consequently a considerable force is requiredto move the shaft through the sleeve to complete the engagement of theconical surfaces of the clutch. Vhere a spring isemployed to accomplishthe clutching movement, this is an especially objectionable feature.

In my new system it is not the shaft that is moved longitudinally, but acentral rod which is connected by a key to the male cone, andthe drivingof the shaft is effected by studs which are carried bythe male cone andengaged with sliding fit in slots provided at the end of a lever-armfixed to the driven shaft. As these studs are arranged near thecircumference of the friction-cone, the frictional resistance to theirlongitudinal movement during the final clutching movement is reduced toa minimum, and consequently the clutching is effected Without diihculty.

The annexed drawings show in Figure l a longitudinal section of myclutch; and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are transverse sections on the lines A B CD E F, respectively, of Fig. l.

The motor-shaft a carries the fly-wheel b, hollowed to form the femalecone c. The

malo conc d, covered with leather e, is mounted with a good sliding fiton the shaft j', a squared part of which carries the sliding sleeve g,on which are pinions Zz, which serve, for instance, in the case ofmotor-car gear to vary the speed of the countenshaft, which is notshown. The cone d can slide along the shaftf. Its nave t' is connectedto a rodj, which slides in the center off bya key 7c, passing through aslot Z on the shaft. This slot Z allows lateral play, so that the key isfree in it and not subject to lateral friction. On the end of the shaftfis a disk m, having two or more projecting arms n, having slots in whichare engaged with a sliding fit studs o, fixed to the cone d, so that thearms a can be driven by the cone without moving the cone longitudinallyon the end of the shaftf.

When the shaft a has to be clutched to f, the spring x is left free topress the sliding 7o piece p in the sheath q and push the head fr of therod j, moving the cone CZ into the female cone c by the pressure of thekey Zt. The cone c then drives CZ, and this, by means of its studs oacting in the slots of the arms fn, drives the shaft f. As this shafthas not to be movedlengthwise there is no friction between it and thesleeve g, so that the force of the clutching-spring can easily insuregood engagement of the cones c and CZ and complete contact of theirsurfaces.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means Iknow of carrying the same into practical effect, I claiml. In acone-clutch, the combination Witha fixed cone and power-shaft, of amovable cone and driven shaft, means for connecting said driven shaftwith said movable cone at a point near the circumference of said movablecone, whereby the frictional resistance to further movement of themovable cone relatively to the driven shaft is reduced to a minimum, anoperating-rod passing through said shaft, a slot Z in said shaft, and akey Zo connected to said operating-rod and passing through said slot Zfreely so as to have some play and to avoid friction atthis point andconnected to said movable cone.

2. In a cone-clutch, the combination with a xed cone and power-shaft, ofa movable cone and driven shaft, means for connecting said driven shaftwith said movable conc at a IOC point near the circumference of saidmovable cone whereby the frictional resistance to further.-Y movement ofthe movable cone relatively to the driven shaft is reduced to a minimum,comprising arms projecting from said shaft and engaged near their outerends by said movable cone, and an operating-rod passing through saidshaft., a slot l in'said shaft, and a key k connected to saidoperating-rod and passing through said slot Z freely so as to have someplay and to avoid friction at this point and connected to said movablecone.

3. In a cone-clutch, the combination with a fixed cone and power-shaft,of a movable cone and driven shaft, means for connecting said drivenshaft Awith` said movable cone at a point near the circumference of saidmovable cone whereby the frictional resistance to further movement ofthe movable cone relatively to the driven shaft is reduced to a minimum,comprising arms projecting from said shaft and engaged near their outerends by said movable cone, an operating-rod passing through said shaft,a slot Z in said shaft, and a key 7c connected to said operating-rod andpassing through said slot l freely so as to have some play and to avoidfriction at this point and connected to said movable cone, and a springx for moving said operating-rod to bring said cones into and out ofengagement.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR CONSTANTN KREBS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. MACLEAN, AUGUSTE MATHIEU.

